There are few reasons why OPPO made its Realme sub-brand. And without a doubt, one of them is to go against Xiaomi’s popular Redmi line.
Their latest release is the Realme C3, a very capable device that’s geared to compete in the entry-level category.
Staying true to its nature, Realme’s latest is aimed to battle with Xiaomi. And in this price range, there’s the Xiaomi Redmi 8A for the C3 to go against with.
Just like the former, the Redmi 8A is made to be your top choice if you’re looking for a well-equipped smartphone in the sub-Php5k range.
With that, here in our Realme C3 versus Xiaomi Redmi 8A specifications and features comparison, we’ll gauge which between these entry-level smartphones fit your needs. Let’s begin!
| Realme C3 | Xiaomi Redmi 8A | |
|---|---|---|
| Operating System | Android 10 Realme UI | Android 9.0 Pie MIUI 9 |
| SIM | Dual SIM Dual Standby | Dual SIM Dual Standby |
| Display | 6.52-inch HD+ IPS 1600 x 720 pixel resolution ~270ppi Corning Gorilla Glass 20:9 aspect ratio | 6.22-inch HD+ IPS 1520 x 720 pixel resolution ~270ppi Corning Gorilla Glass 5 19:9 aspect ratio |
| Processor | 2GHz octa-core MediaTek Helio G70 octa-core | 2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 439 octa-core |
| RAM | 3GB/4GB | 2GB |
| GPU | Mali G52 | Adreno 505 |
| Storage | 32GB/64GB expandable via microSD | 32GB expandable up to 512GB via microSD |
| Front camera | 5-megapixel | 8-megapixel |
| Rear Camera | International: 12-megapixel (f/1.8) 2-megapixel (Depth sensor) 2-megapixel (Macro) PDAF LED flash India: 12-megapixel (f/1.8) 2-megapixel (Depth sensor) | 12-megapixel (f/1/8) f/1.8 PDAF LED Flash |
| Audio | Single loudspeaker Headphone jack | Single loudspeaker Headphone jack |
| Security | International: Rear-mounted fingerprint scanner India: Face unlock | Face unlock |
| Connectivity | HSPA+, 4G LTE WiFi 802.11 b/g/n Bluetooth 5.0 GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS FM Radio microUSB | HSPA+, 4G LTE Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n A-GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou USB Type-C |
| Dimensions | 164.4 x 8.95 x 75mm | 156.5 x 75.4 x 9.4mm |
| Weight | 195g | 188g |
| Colors | Frozen Blue Blazing Red | Midnight Black Ocean Blue Sunset Red |
| Battery | 5,000mAh 10W charging | 5,000mAh 18W charging |
| Price | TBH3,999 (~Php6,500) | Php5,490 |
Both the new Realme C3 and the Xiaomi Redmi 8A are interesting devices in their category. But as we saw in the table above, Realme takes the lead in some important departments.
For starters, it has a bigger screen. It is 6.52-inch in size, resulting in a taller and slimmer 20:9 aspect ratio. The screen on the Redmi 8A is not so bad, either. Although it’s a little smaller at 6.22-inches.
Moreover, both devices do share an identical HD+ resolution. One of the key limitations of their affordable asking price.
Probably the Realme C3’s biggest win is in the processor department. This phone is powered by the latest MediaTek Helio G70 processor, a chipset made to deliver good gaming capabilities to budget smartphones.
The Snapdragon 439 chipset on the Xiaomi Redmi 8A is decent, but it is no way near the performance level of the G70. It can handle basic day-to-day tasks easily with some gaming on the side.
We have mixed results in the camera department. Both devices have 12-megapixel primary cameras with wide apertures of f/1.8. Although, the extra macro and depth sensor on the Realme C3 sure is a big plus.
Nevertheless, the Xiaomi bet does come with a better 8-megapixel selfie camera. That’s when compared to the 5-megapixel front-facing shooter of the Realme C3.
Another win that Xiaomi was able to get is in the battery department. While both devices share the same 5,000mAh batteries, you can charge the Redmi 8A faster with its 18W fast-charging support.
On the downside, it appears that the Redmi 8A only ships with a 10W charger. That’s the same charger that the Realme C3 comes with. So, unless you’re willing to buy a third-party charger, they are more or less the same.
We bring back the spotlight to the Realme C3, which comes with more RAM and storage capacity than the competition.
This one is available in 3GB/32GB and 4GB/64GB configurations, while the latter is only available (at least here in the Philippines) in a 2GB/32GB RAM and storage setup. The Realme C3 also has a fingerprint scanner on the back, something that the competition lacks.
As for the software, the Realme C3 ships with the latest Android 10 with Realme’s own UI, since it’s a newer release. Knowing Xiaomi, we expect the older Redmi 8A to be updated to the latest version of Android as well.
Related
So, before we wrap up, let’s answer our question earlier. Which between the Realme C3 and Xiaomi Redmi 8A is the one for you?
Well, the Realme C3 clearly offers better specs and features than the Xiaomi Redmi 8A. It has a larger screen, newer processor, more RAM and storage capacity, and triple-cameras on the back.
Pricing is a big factor in devices like this. While the local pricing and release date of the Realme C3 are yet to be announced, we expect the base model to match the Redmi 8A’s pricing, which is at Php5,490, once it gets here in the Philippines.
You can learn more about it in our Realme C3 hands-on review.